Hence we have discussed the influence of the electron effects of several substituents at the reactive
centers of nitrogen binucleophiles on their regioselectivity and reaction rate with 2-alkoxypropenals. In the
conditions chosen the existence of ring-chain tautomerism for the novel 1,3-imidazolidine 4a containing a
vinyloxy group at position 2 has been shown. This fact confirms and develops the recent publication dependence
showing that only those N-unsubstituted 1,3-imidazolidines in which the position 2 has a 2-iso-propyl group or
two alkyl groups take part in the ring-chain equilibrium while imidazolidines with linear alkyl substituents in
position 2 (Me, Et, Pr) exist in CDCl3 exclusively as the cyclic tautomers. For the 2-phenyl- substituted
imidazolidine the tautomeric equilibrium is fully shifted to the open isomer side [10]. The introduction of an
alkoxyvinyl group at position 2 of the imidazolidines opens up the possibility of their further functionalization.
EXPERIMENTAL
1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker DPX-400 spectrometer (400 and 100 MHz
respectively) using CDCl3 with HMDS as internal standard. IR spectra were obtained on a Specord IR-75
spectrometer. Chromato-mass spectrometric analysis was performed on a Hewlett-Packard 5971A instrument
(EI, 70 eV, mass selective detector), HP-5890 chromatograph, Ultra-2 column (5% phenylmethylsilicone),
evaporator temperature 250ºC, column thermostat temperature 70-280ºC, rate of temperature increase 20
deg./min. An LG MS-1904H 700 watt microwave oven was used for the microwave irradiation with a C-20.1
pyrometer (technoa, from -18ºC to +500ºC).
1,2-Bis(2'-ethoxypropylideneamino)ethane (5). The diamine 2a (1.12 g, 18.7 mmol) was added to a
solution of the propenal 1a (1.87 g, 18.87 mmol) in CHCl3 (2 ml). After several minutes the 1H NMR spectrum
of the reaction mixture showed 3-(2'-aminoethylimino)-2-ethoxypropene (3a) and 2-(1'-ethoxyvinyl)imida-
zolidine (4a), ratio 3a:4a = 1:1.3. 1H NMR spectrum of compound 3a, δ, ppm (J, Hz): 1.21 (3H, t, J = 6.9, CH3);
3.00 (2H, m, CH2); 3.56 (2H, m, CH2); 3.88 (2H, q, J = 6.9, OCH2); 4.54 (1H, d, J = 2.0, =CH2); 4.57 (1H, d,
1
J = 2.0, =CH2); 7.58 (1H, s, N=CH). H NMR spectrum of compound 4a, δ, ppm (J, Hz): 1.32 (3H, t, J = 7.0,
CH3); 2.87 (2H, dd, J = 10.2, J = 11.5, CH2 ring); 3.04 (2H, dd, J = 10.2, J = 11.5, CH2 ring); 3.77 (2H, q,
J = 7.0, OCH2); 3.99 (1H, d, J = 2.0, =CH2); 4.25 (1H, d, J = 2.0, =CH2); 4.18 (1H, s, CH). The reaction mixture
was dried over MgSO4 and solvent was removed at reduced pressure. Distillation in vacuo of the residue gave
1
the product 5 (2.19 g, 52.3%) with bp 127ºC (1 mm Hg). H NMR spectrum of compound 5, δ, ppm (J, Hz):
1.39 (6H, t, J = 7.0, CH3); 3.80 (4H, s, CH2); 3.87 (4H, q, J = 7.0, 2OCH2); 4.50 (2H, d, J = 2.0, =CH2); 4.56
13
(2H, d, J = 2.0, =CH2); 7.61 (1H, s, N=CH). C NMR spectrum, δ, ppm: 14.46 (CH3); 61.17 (NCH2); 63.59
(OCH2); 93.99 (=CH2); 157.76 (=CH–); 159.78 (–CH=). GLC-MS, m/z (Irel, %): 223 [M-1]+ (1), 195 (15), 181
(13), 127 (32), 98 (100), 84 (56), 68 (14), 55 (38), 41 (22), 29 (20). Found, %: C 63.92; H 8.92; N 12.39.
C12H20N2O2. Calculated, %: C 64.28; H 8.93; N 12.5.
2-(1'-Ethoxyvinyl)-1-methyl-1,3-imidazolidine (4b). The propenal 1a (0.95 g, 9.5 mmol) was added to
a solution of the N-methyldiaminoethylene 2b (0.714 g, 9.5 mmol) in CHCl3 (2 ml). The reaction mixture was
held for 1 h at 24ºC and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo to give compound 4b (0.604 g, 43%) with bp 45ºC
(1 mm Hg). IR spectrum (thin film), ν, cm-1: 1610 and 1650 (C=C), 3100 (sharp), 3320 (broad) (NH). 1H NMR
spectrum, δ, ppm (J, Hz): 1.33 (3H, t, J = 7.0, CH3); 2.25 (1H, m, CH2 ring); 2.30 (3H, s, NCH3); 2.98 (1H, m,
CH2); 3.19 (2H, m, CH2); 3.30 (1H, s, NH); 3.79 (2H, two q, J = 7.0, OCH2); 4.07 (H, d, J = 2.0, =CH2); 4.18
(1H, d, J = 2.0, =CH2). GLC-MS, m/z (Irel, %): 156 [M]+ (10), 127 (6), 113 (5), 98 (3), 85 [M-CH2=COEt]+
(100), 84 [M-CH2=COEt-H]+ (24), 68 (2), 56 (5), 44 (31), 28 (5). Found, %: C 61.31; H 10.22; N 17.88.
C8H16N2O. Calculated, %: C 61.54; H 10.26; N 17.95.
2-(1'-Ethoxyvinyl)-1,3-diphenyl-1,3-imidazolidine (4c). Propenal 1a (1.08 g, 10.8 mmol) was added
to a solution of the diamine 2c (2.3 g, 10.8 mmol) in EtOH (3 ml). The reaction mixture was held for about
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